Wedding Planners & Planning Tips

Wedding Unity Ceremony is a very special event of a wedding because it is just the right way to welcome new members, especially children into the new family which formed after the wedding. It emphasizes the need of a new member as well as his support for the newly formed family. People do celebrate the Wedding Unity Ceremony in many ways but there are 3 standard formats including the Candle Unity, the Rose Unity and lastly Sand Unity Ceremony.

While in the Candle Unity Wedding Ceremony the bride as well as the groom will light candles, the number too being specific, about 3 candles. Candle lighting depicts the love shared by a wife and a husband. First bride will lit the candle followed by groom and then together they will lit each other's candles, which depict sharing of each other's joys and problems alike. The couple lighting another candle follows this, and this is a symbolic representation of their eternal unity. The Candle Unity Ceremony can be planned indoors due to breeze interference if planned outdoors.

The Rose Unity Wedding Ceremony can be planned either indoors or outdoors. After both the bride and the groom are pronounces as wife and husband, the event takes place. In this a rose will be given by the bride to groom and groom to the bride and since rose symbolically represent love it means they share love and bonds. The event of Rose Unity Wedding Ceremony gives the new couple a very special identity and it is the most common of the 3 wedding ceremony formats.

Don't forget to add other members of the family (especially children from either of the sides) and the newlyweds can give roses and kisses to children. Believe that this will send positive signals into them, which is very important for binding of the newly formed family.

The third common format is the Sand Unity Wedding Ceremony in which sand is used. Mostly this ceremony is planned along the beach fronts where sand is in abundance and two vials filled with sand will be removed (which are kept before) from under the feet of newlyweds and both of them will pour sand into one vial called the unity vial. This says a loud that they are going to be one from now on. The couple usually will retain the unity vial as a memorable keepsake. Children (if they will be part of new family) also are included and they take sand from both bride and the groom and pour into the unity vial.

With the three standard formats you can plan your wedding with any one of them because a wedding is only partially complete without a unity wedding ceremony. So go ahead get geared for your wedding and finish it off with the wedding unity ceremony in a memorable style. There are newer trends coming in with unity ceremonies and you may as well sit and plan well ahead if you want to continue with new trends.

About the Author: Jerry Leung designs Stylish Chinese Wedding Invitations with Dragon and Phoenix Art. He runs a website on Wedding Ring Pillows. Be sure to check Tips on Chocolate Seashell Wedding Favors.

Nothing is quite as fun or as stressful as planning a really big party, and your wedding reception is one of the biggest parties that you will ever have. One of the concepts that most people bring into their wedding day is that the ceremony is for the bride and groom (although all are invited and encouraged to bear witness) but it is the reception that is going to stand out in the minds of the guests. With this in mind, it is clear why it is important to have a good idea when it comes to what goes into a wedding reception, who takes care of what, and all the basic elements.

Who pays?

One common misconceptions when it comes to traditional wedding ideas is that the father of the bride foots the bill for the whole day. In fact, the father of the bride traditionally only paid for the reception, and thus he was considered the host of the event.

Today, there are any number of options when it comes to payments. Couples may pay for their receptions themselves, the father or parents of the bride may pay, or the parents of the groom may pay. Of course, any combination of these is also a possibility. Still, more often than not it will end up being the bride's dad who pays for the reception; just make sure that if you are doing it for tradition, that you are clear what the tradition really is!

Elements of the Reception

Depending on budget and time, there are several elements that are incorporated into wedding receptions. This checklist offers a general order, as well as some suggestions as to which vendor's services are required.

Arrival of the Bride and Groom. This aspect is usually announced by the Master of Ceremonies, although the father of the bride may wish to do so if he is hosting the event. Guests will often begin arriving half an hour or so early, so it is important that they have some refreshments waiting for them. This may include some bottles of wine on the tables, a bar with a bartender, or a combination.

The Meal. Without exception, a wedding reception will include a meal. The meal is the responsibility of the caterer; if you use a professional company, then they will likely also provide you with your wine and champagne needs for the night. The Master of Ceremonies announces that dinner is about to be served and then calls each table up, beginning with the head table.

Program. Most wedding receptions will include a program when the meal concludes, before the cake is eaten. This program might incorporate an open mike, special music, and other presentations. The end of the program is signaled by the toasts. The toast to the bride is the most important of these, but there can also be toasts to the groom and the other members of the wedding party as well. Generally the wine at the tables is gone at this point, and the guests will toast with some champagne or more wine supplied from the bar.

Cake. The conclusion of the program means it is time to cut the cake! Many couples are adding dessert wines to their cake eating as a way to complement the experience.

Dance. Many people remember the dance as the most spectacular part of the wedding day. Whether you choose a live band or a DJ, the dance music should be suited to your own tastes. It's a party atmosphere, and the drinks and the good will flow freely!

A wedding reception is what will truly mark your day apart from all others. The wedding reception should be planned to reflect the personalities of the couple in all aspects, from the meal to the drinks to the program and the dancing.

Author: Caroline Silverstone

"Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." That's one line that I have come to hate. It's an expression that has become associated with me. "So you're a bridesmaid again?" Those snooty girls in my neighborhood would never miss a chance to say that to my face.

"Why am I always a bridesmaid, Never the blushing bride? Ding! Dong! Wedding bells Always ring for other gals. But one fine day - Please let it be soon - I shall wake up in the morning On my own honeymoon."

Oh how I hate Charles Collin and Fred W. Leigh for writing that song. It's become my brother's invincible weapon when he feels like badgering me. And believe me, he feels like it all the time. And he has creative means of finding a way to pull in the issue. Picture this-he's all engrossed in a basketball game and would suddenly scream, "The team's a damned bridesmaid, always too close but never there, just like my pathetic sister!"

And there's this Listerine advertisement. Can you believe it's blaming the whole syndrome to halitosis? Hey, I don't have bad breath! They gave my brother yet another reason to taunt me.

But I am currently rejoicing. Do you remember that old myth? The one that says you break the charm after your seventh bridesmaid service? Well, I had been a bridesmaid for six times now and a good friend just invited me to become one of her bridesmaids (better keep my eyes on that bouquet). What do you know? I just might break the spell!

You might already be laughing by now. It must be funny to listen to a girl grumbling about being unmarried and actually relying on superstition to solve her problem. What can I say? A girl could hope.

Anyway, I'm so excited about the whole event that I actually volunteered to help with the wedding preparations. And of course, I asked that I be assigned to the most fun part. What else could it be? Shopping! I'm done with the ring bearer and groomsmen gifts. And would you believe I also did the shopping for bridesmaid gifts? It's actually fun buying your own gift, and wrapping it too.

Anyway, I'm on to the last part. But why, I actually saved the best for last. I'm on to shopping for bridesmaids dresses and I found this really impressive collection. It's called Bridesmaids Gowns - AfterSix. The bride and I agree that it's the best line we've seen so far. They're not too loud yet stylish and trendy.

Now we'll have to choose among three lovely dresses. The first among our top three favorites is the Style - 6504. The dress runs a little below the knees. It's actually more like a cocktail dress than a bridesmaid gown, but my friend and I prefer it that way. Style - 6504 is an elegant v-neck dress with a trendy empire waist. We especially loved its shade of olive green.

Second in line is the Style - 6500. It actually looks like a long gown but not quite. It's simple cut and sweetheart neckline dresses it down. But still, it has an imposing presence with its vivid pitch black color.

And there's the alluring Style - 6510. Its cut is not all that flattering to the figure and you don't get to show much skin because of its knee length. Still, the dress is a teaser, very sexy. Nothing beats the color red. What do you know? Playing the part of a 'lady in red' just might win me a new guy.

Anyway, what I really love about these dresses is that I get to wear them to any formal party. They make for a great addition to my wardrobe. Now that's smart shopping!


Author: Olga Pomeransky, Best for Bride Bridal Boutique Team

Your wedding will forever be remembered, etched in the mind of your wedding guests who could not help but wipe the tears in their eyes upon seeing two people they care about finally united as one. This will only be realized however, if you chose the right music for the occasion.

Choosing songs that will be used for the wedding ceremony usually lies in the hands of your officiant. However, couples that want their songs personalized can talk to their officiant and coordinate as to the choice of songs.

You would generally not have a great deal of choice if you are planning a church wedding since most churches have guidelines for their music. However, you can still choose some songs that may not necessarily be religious songs but which the church will allow to be played during some parts of the ceremony. If you want to have more leeway in choosing your soundtrack then a civil ceremony may be a better option for you.

A piano or an organ usually supports a church choir but having a harp play your wedding songs would be heaven. You may also be able to choose your own soloist for the day. The soloist can coordinate with the people in charge as to what he or she can sing solo and what should be sung with the choir. There are various parts in the ceremony where a soloist would be appropriate including the procession of the bride, lighting of the candles, or before a Holy Communion. A duet of live vocalists could also give the event a nice touch.

Gone are the days when "Here Comes The Bride" was the only song played during the procession of the bride to the altar. There are a lot of popular commercial songs that have become a favorite during weddings. Among these are The Prayer by Josh Groban, Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley, You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker and a lot more.

Most couples choose songs that mean something to them and the relationship. If the songs you like do not make it on the ceremony list, don't lose heart because you can always play them during your reception. Remember; if you are hiring a live band then ask them beforehand if they have the songs you want in their playlist.

Author: Amanda Jane

Most weddings cost far more than you would spend on a decent saloon car. It's unthinkable that you would drive your brand new car without insurance cover, yet so many couples take a bigger financial risk by not insuring their wedding costs against the risk of total loss. By comparison to cars, house content, possessions, valuables, etc., wedding insurance costs very little for comprehensive cover. The relatively small premium for wedding insurance will give you peace of mind as you plan for your wedding.

Wedding insurance policies give a wide range of cover for many eventualities that could affect your wedding day. However, it is unlikely that small, irritating events would be included in the cover, such as rainfall, cloud, etc. but stronger weather forces that affect the wedding day almost certainly would, such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, etc. If adverse weather or other unpredicted events were to cause your wedding or reception venue to close or become inaccessible then your wedding insurance policy would provide a suitable level of cover. The same policy would cover unpredictable events with the wedding car supplier or the caterer or even if the bride or groom should sustain an accident which caused the wedding to be canceled for the planned date. A low premium insurance policy to cover all of the wedding day suppliers and events will compensate for those unexpected situations that can leave you seriously out of pocket.

When you start to plan the wedding arrangements most couples wouldn't consider including insurance as a part of their list - but you should! When you have set your wedding date and you start to book the suppliers for your wedding you are starting to make financial obligations for the big day - at that stage you should have your wedding insurance in places as well. This will give you a maximum period of cover for your insurance fee as well as adequate cover should anything go wrong in the period leading up to your wedding day that may leave you financially disadvantaged.

Most wedding insurance policies are similar, both in price and in the level of cover that they offer, but it's still worth shopping around to find the cover that best suits you. The internet and insurance brokers are a great source of information for the levels of cover offered by different companies. A good policy will include cancellation (but unlikely that this would include a change of mind!), the wedding rings and other wedding jewelery, wedding dress, the Groom, Best man and bridesmaid's outfits (if you are hiring formal attire, then check the insurance requirements), venue(s), caterer, transportation, florist, personal accident for the Bride and Groom if this affects your wedding plans, personal liability, wedding cake damage, photographer (including destruction of the wedding photographs), wedding gifts (ensure that cash and vouchers are included).

The insurance cover for your honeymoon should be arranged separately from the wedding insurance. Your honeymoon would normally be covered by travel insurance, generally arranged at the same time as making your travel arrangements. However, you may wish to consider that the travel insurance would not normally cover cancellation as a result of your wedding plans having been disrupted, so you may want to include cover for this with your wedding insurance policy or take out separate cover for this specific risk.

Planning and organizing your wedding can be a very enjoyable experience, leading up to one of the most exciting and important days of your life. No one expects things to go wrong, and they rarely do, but you should have the reassurance of wedding insurance to give yourself peace of mind over any unexpected or unpredictable events that could disrupt your wedding day. When you start to plan your wedding day and book the suppliers, take out your wedding insurance policy at the same time. This gives the maximum period of cover and means you can concentrate on your wedding whilst you have the reassurance that the whole event is covered by your wedding insurance policy. Enjoy planning for the big day and your wedding day itself - congratulations, it's one of the most enjoyable days of your life.

About the Author: Steve Shaw offers advice and information on organizing and arranging your wedding.

Are you looking for unique wedding favors for your wedding reception? If you are than you know that there are so many different types of wedding gifts that you can choose from.

You just have to take the time to figure out what type you want to use and then choose from there. In other words, do you want to use traditional wedding souvenirs or maybe even unique ones?

Unique wedding favors are great to use because they will help people remember your wedding for a long time after. Here are some ideas you can use for your unique gifts.

Idea #1: You can buy the more traditional wedding souvenirs and make them unique by personalizing them. For example, to a more personal touch to your fabric and chrome favors, there are custom monograms and engraving that is available. You can also do something simple such as personalizing ribbons that are elegant but not expensive.

Idea #2: One way to get the unique gift you want to use is to make your own wedding gifts. This will definitely be a thoughtful and unique gift. There are kits that are available online that you are ready to assemble favors that you can make and personalize however you want to.

Idea #3: To find exactly what you want you shop around at a local wedding store or use the internet. This will take you some time to do but you will be able to see the many different ideas that are available.

Here are some of the different types that you can find.

* Rose Heart Magnet Frame - This is a 2 x 2 heart shaped frame and it is enclosed in its own white mesh drawstring bag. This is one that your guests will love to get.

One memorable you can give is CD wedding favors.

* Contemporary Heart Strings Playing Cards - These are actual playing cards that you can have personalized with the name of the bride and groom.

* Hot Saucer Personalized is one that will go over really well with lots of people. Again you can have it personalized as the name implies.

These are just a few ideas from the many thousands of ideas that are available. When you want unique ideas you will definitely be able to find exactly what you want if you just take the time to look around before you decide what to get.

You can even get wedding favors that are based around an unusual theme such as a country wedding theme. It doesn't matter what you are looking for you will eventually be able to find it if you just take the time and look around. When you look online you can find unique souvenirs that you would never have thought of.

All you need to do to find unique wedding favors is to go to any major search engine and put in that exact phrase. You will get a lot of websites that you can start your search at. You will be able to come up with all kinds of ideas and before you know it you will have the perfect favors for your very special day.

About the Author: Joe Palladino invites you to visit his website for all of your wedding favors needs. They offer unique wedding favors, bridal shower wedding favors, cheap wedding favors, and daily favor specials. With over 3000 items to choose from be sure and check out their best price guarantee. Please visit http://www.herweddingfavors.com

There is so much preparation that needs to go into a memorable wedding. A list to help plan for your wedding and wedding expenses is a must. Once this list is in place, it will make planning a whole lot easier.

Every wedding budget is not the same so a list of expenses for each wedding will not be the same. I will start by giving you the average amount of money spent on a wedding recently, which comes in at anywhere from $15,000 to about $30,000 for that special day.

So for our list of expenses to remember, we are going to assume your wedding falls in the average cost category. Here is a list of expenses for your wedding,

Wedding Favors-$340 Bouquets and flowers-$1500 Music and entertainment-$1000 Bride and Groom's wedding attire-$1500 Reception (assuming 200 guests)-$9000 Photography and Videography-$1500 Invitations and Stationary-$500 Religious Ceremony fees-$300 Formal wear rental for ushers, best-man and bridesmaids-$1000 Wedding and Engagement rings-$1500

Please remember this is an estimate and every wedding will have a different total of expenses. The Culture and tradition of both the bride and groom play a big role in terms of a list of wedding expenses and a list to help prepare for wedding day. The geographical area is another thing to consider in terms of cost. The list above is an average amount spent for weddings.

Wedding expenses have been constantly rising as brides and grooms of new generations tend to want more on their wedding day. The average age of brides and grooms is now between the ages of 27 to 29, which are up from 10 years ago. The couples these days also have more buying power than in the past.

Author: Akintayo Binuyo

So the question was popped and now you and your fiancé are in the process of planning your wedding, congratulations! Now you are faced with the daunting task of budgeting. So how much does a wedding reception cost? Is it cheap, expensive or average? Only you can answer those questions after taking the following into consideration.

A Cheap Wedding Reception is not Always the Best

You heard the saying, you get what you pay for, let the buyer beware. Well, when you are interviewing wedding reception vendors you will get a general feel for the prices and options. The lowest cheapest spectrum might be competitively priced, but will they under deliver? Determining how much does it cost will depend on credibility of your wedding reception vendors. They should provide you with a list of recent references (preferably last 6 months.) You can stay way below the average for your grand total wedding costs. Just keep in mind that the cheapest service you go with will have to compliment your ONE wedding.

Average Wedding Prices has its Pros and Cons

Well an average price for your wedding cost might make you jump for joy, but are their services just average as well? Does the company have any unique options? If not, then why are their prices so low? Do they get enough business? If a wedding company can help you save by creating a package just for you then this might interest you. Any company with average prices must deliver in other areas. Your wedding is FAR from average.

Expensive Wedding Costs

So you have interviewed several wedding companies and determined that the pricing does not matter. Great, you will have more options available for you. My only concern for you is that sometimes these prices are determined by people that have overinflated egos. It is best to make sure that on the contract "IN WRITING" it is stated as to exactly what you are getting. Do not leave any room for discrepancies. Trust me, I am a wedding entertainment vendor and I have heard horror stories from other brides. An expensive wedding does not always mean that you will be receiving the best service.

How Much Does a Wedding Cost

The cost of a wedding reception can not be determined in dollar amounts. It will cost you aggravation and grief if you make a poor choice. This goes for the expensive, cheap, and average wedding costs. The most important thing is that you enjoy your wedding reception with you family and friends knowing that you spent just amount of time and energy into selecting the perfect wedding reception vendors.

About the Author: Robert Reno DJs for Michigan wedding receptions.

When my daughter got married, I was so happy as the mother of the bride. This day was very special for me, and even if she did not say it in so many words, she was relying fully on my support in the days and weeks before the wedding

My daughter has many friends and she can always count on them for many things. But all mothers and daughters are aware of what is really happening the last days before the wedding and it felt great being there for her giving the support that she needed.

I've heard from a friend of mine that she wished that her mother had taken her role of mother of the bride more seriously. The support that she offered was lovely but limited by her father. Even though he was happy his daughter was getting married, something as big as a wedding and the accompanying party was not really his cup of tea. He preferred to keep things simple and didn't like to dress up and meet all the people. The excitement of a wedding was too much for him and he leaned a great deal on her mother when she actually needed her.

I was lucky my daughter involved me in as many things as she could. She asked me to go shopping together and find a beautiful mother of the bride outfit for me to wear on her special day. I could have gone through my closet and find something matching to her dress but I preferred to buy something new. I never was one for wearing dresses so I bought myself a beautiful pantsuit.

Of course we did have our arguments and disagreements as stress was building up as the date was getting closer. I admit I can be a bit pushy sometimes to have things my way but after all it was her wedding day. The smile of happiness when she glanced at me on the aisle was worth it all. She made it clear to me how much it meant to her and I was honored to be the mother of the bride.

Author: Brenda Jackson

Weddings can be a nightmare to plan - endless sleepless nights stressing about table arrangements and wedding favours. To keep it all simple I would recommend using a local florist to create a look that is just perfect for your wedding.

It is a good idea to get a florist to supply the flower arrangements. Most of the work to arrange the flowers is done the day before and the morning of the wedding which is also when you will be at your busiest.

What do you think of when getting married, the dress, the cake, the photographer and not forgetting feeding all your guests, but what sets many people's weddings apart Its normally all in the flowers - those little natural gems go a long way in making any wedding look elegant.

When deciding on florists try to get personal recommendations from friends and people that have recently got married. If you are unable to decide, it is best to visit several and look at their displays or have a look on their website as most have online galleries such as the Secret Garden.

The flowers should only be decided upon once the wedding outfits have been chosen. The style and colour scheme of flowers should be in keeping with the wedding and in particular reflect the personality of the bride.

The local florist should be given notice of the wedding approximately four months in advance so that he or she is free on the day. The florist will want to discuss precise details around six weeks before the wedding.

It is important to get a wedding florist in the North East and one who has portrayed many other couples big day therefore they will understand how to do this well.

I've done some research on this and got some inside knowledge from the people that know most about this subject - florists. Read on for more advice.

For an elegant and formal look, bouquets can be done in all white flowers. Without other colours to distract, all attention is on the bride at this special moment. Flowers such as roses and lilies come in many shades of white, from cream, ivory, or pale beige to a white with just at tint of pink.

Rich colours can really make a floral bouquet stand out and draw the eye. Choose colours that enhance the colour scheme of the wedding and the bridesmaids' dresses. Select from the full spectrum of colours including soft pinks to deep, rich cranberry, delicate mauve to deep purple, butter yellow to bright orange.

Choose flower buds that look like oval berries for a wonderful compliment to fully opened blooms. On long stems and in clusters, they accent a bridal bouquet with their delicacy. For an elegant, custom look, have your bridal bouquet and bridesmaids' bouquets hand-tied. Wrap the stems to the bottom with complimentary ribbon or let the stems hang loose.

If you won't be able to part with your bouquet at the end of the day, plan ahead. Make up a small bouquet resembling the official bridal bouquet and use it on the guest book or gift table. At the end of the day, this will be the one that you toss.

Author: Tracy Hildreth

Labels: Wedding-Planning

OK, so you think that the words "cheap" and "wedding" just don't belong together, don't you? You're among the vast majority of people living today, but I've got some news for you.

You're dead wrong.

Spending a lifetime's worth of savings on your big day is not something anyone should have to do and you definitely shouldn't plan to do it.

In fact, spending a huge amount of money on your wedding day is just silly, it's downright idiotic!

You can have a fantastic, elegant, and beautiful wedding and wedding reception without having to go broke or spending the rest of your life trying to pay off your wedding day debt.

Today's smart couple knows that you having a wedding budget and sticking to it just makes more sense than racking up those bills like crazy.

And its not as if many couples can expect their parents to pay for everything either. Those days have long since past as couples are getting married later in life and often times live together for some time before actually getting married.

But the modern couple can still have a great wedding without breaking the bank by using some simple tips that many people often overlook. Here's a quick look at 5 of these tips.

Tip #1 - Buy your dress secondhand. This one is really a no-brainer. Wedding dresses are not exactly the most well-worn items in the world. Most of them get put back into the bag within a few hours after they are worn. Save some money and buy a used wedding dress. Rest assured that the dress has only been very, very lightly used.

Tip #2 - Have your friends and family make your food and cake as part of their wedding gift to you. Caterers love to hear the phrase "wedding reception" when someone enters their office. Dollar signs immediately appear in their eyes. Don't give them the satisfaction. Have family members and friends of the family gift you the food for your reception.

Tip #3 - Use your MP3 player or iPod instead of a DJ. DJs are very, very expensive. Save your self some time and avoid the ramblings of an obnoxious DJ and play the songs you really want from your personal music player.

Tip #4 - Have your reception at home with only close friends and family. These are the people that really care about you and want to wish you the best as you start your new life. Make your reception an intimate affair.

Tip #5 - Keep that invitation list small. As much as we would all like to have everyone in the world come to our wedding (or at least send their gifts!), be realistic. The price of your wedding multiplies each time you add another guest to your list.

Just because you are trying to save money on your wedding doesn't mean that you have to give up on style or sentimentality. It just means you need to be creative and come up with other ways to get what you want.

Save some money without skimping on the good stuff and use it to pay for a really great honeymoon, since they last so much longer than the wedding itself does.

Couples that have great relationships and want to have a long marriage understand a simple truth: weddings are a great and memorable event, but they are only a very small part of your entire marriage.

Enjoy your marriage and don't let the costs of your wedding day interfere with the rest of your life as a couple. Have fun on your wedding day, make it an event that involves everyone. Make your wedding something that creates memories, rather than something that creates outrageous bills.

Finally! The only wedding planning guide you'll ever need to organize, plan, and enjoy the wedding of your dreams without going into debt for the next 20 years! Turn your wedding dreams into reality using the secret insider's tips that the wedding industry doesn't want you to know about! =>

Author: Michael Paul Jr.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Most wedding services in Christian churches consist of a number of common elements, including prayers, readings from scripture (the Bible) and blessings. All weddings include a declaration of consent, marriage vows or promises, and the exchange of rings. Different church denominations may have particular orders of proceedings and traditions which may also be included, such as the crowning of the couple (particularly in churches of the orthodox traditions). Various local customs may also appear in the service, such as the binding with cords.

In some denominations such as Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal and Lutheran and Orthodox, the wedding service may also include the celebration of the Mass (also referred to as Eucharist), or Holy Communion. You should discuss this with your celebrant to determine if this is an advisable option for you.

Once you have worked out all the details for your service, its now time to consider preparing an Order of Service, or a program of your ceremony.

This is an important feature of your Wedding Service for a number of reasons.

It provides:

• An historical record of the proceedings which occurred on your wedding day. In years to come, you will be able to refer back to this document and see in detail, information which will not have been recorded in photos, videos or even the official marriage papers.
• A memento of your wedding which your guests can take home with them, and some of your friends will even refer to it when arranging their own weddings!
• A helpful guide for the guests attending your wedding service, who may be unfamiliar with the liturgy of your church and its protocols. Most of your guests will be interested in the service you have designed, especially if they can peruse it in printed format. They will also feel much more comfortable about participating in your service if they know the details of what is happening and when. Your Order of Service can be a detailed document or a simple outline of the main points in your weddings.

A good Order of Service should contain at least the following information to ensure that it is a useful document,

• Details of the Bride and Groom, and the names of attendants.
• Details of the Date, Time and venue.
• Names of the Participants in your service - such as the Celebrant, readers, other members of the bridal party, names of your musicians, ushers etc. A Simple Order of Service should also contain at least the basic structure of your service, such as
• Entrance of the Bride (with name of accompanying music).
• The Scripture readings, name of readers and the biblical reference.
• An outline of the Rite of Marriage - E.g. Giving of Consent, Blessing and Exchange of Rings, General Intercessions, Lord's Prayer, the Blessing, Signing of the Register (including music details) and Recessional (music details).
• It should also give simple instructions to your guests of when to "STAND" or "SIT" during the service.

A more detailed Order of Service may contain the following;

• Words of hymns and songs which the congregation are invited to sing.
• Melody lines of hymns and songs to enable better and more confident participation, especially if your guests are not familiar with the tunes.
• Texts and Translation of songs or choir motets and anthems which may be in another language e.g. Latin or French. Your guests would like to know and feel more included when that know what it is that is being sung!
• Short explanations of the symbols used in your marriage service. A well prepared Order of Service will prove to be a useful aid to your wedding guests and a memento of your big day!

Author: Bernard Kirkpatrick

Labels: Wedding-Planning

You're getting married and you want the world, or at least your closest friends and family, to know what's in your heart. Choosing ceremony readings that represent the beauty and love of your relationship is a wonderful, and relatively easy way to share these feelings and personalize your ceremony. Your readings should be beautiful, moving and interesting to your guests, reflect the words and feelings in your heart, yet still adhere to the formality and "feel" that you want for your ceremony.

There are so many wonderful sources to find suitable readings. You can find them in scripture; (I Corinthians 13:4-8 - "Love is patient. Love is kind ... ," Ephesians 5:21-32 - "Honor Christ by submitting to each other... . And the two shall become one.", Song of Solomon 6:3 - "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine .. "; from selections of poetry (Alfred, Lord Tennyson - "In true marriage lies, Nor equal, or unequal," anonymous Chinese poet, Han Dynasty - "O, celestial beings, Let our feelings for each other, continue without diminishing," ); or excerpts from literature, William Shakespeare from As You Like It - "... no sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy... "). However, since there are so many, it can get so overwhelming. Don't let this send you down the simple route of merely looking at a list of possible selections (usually provided by your officiant or person who is helping with the ceremony), and picking a couple readings only because they're on his/her list and therefore must be the appropriate choices. Visit your local library and look under topics such as poetry, literature, wedding readings. Check your (and your fiancé's) bookshelves, and music collection. Some of the most beautiful words of love are song lyrics.

Don't be too quick to dismiss readings that have "been done." If you find yourself hesitating over a particular selection because you're afraid that your guests will groan, "Oh, no! Not this one again," stop a moment and give it a thorough once over. Read the selection out loud, or have someone read it to you. The spoken word has a much greater impact than just seeing them on a piece of paper. You may need to back up a bit to include a preceding verse or sentence or two, or if you have someone who is creative with words, can write a suitable introduction. Including this intro can help make the "same old" come alive, becoming something that is new and fresh. In a beautiful introduction to Corinthians 13:4-8, an aunt of the bride described the differences between love and infatuation. An excerpt follows. "Infatuation is fleeting desire. True love is a friendship that has caught fire. Infatuation says we must get married right away, I can't risk losing you. Love says be patient, don't panic, plan your future with confidence. Infatuation might lead you to do things you will regret. Love never steers you in the wrong direction. God, in His amazing, infinite wisdom, said it perfectly in Corinthians."

Of course, you'll want to take special care in choosing the person(s) who will be your readers. Look for someone who is comfortable in front of a crowd, and can read in a good speaking voice. Even the most beautiful, emotion evoking words will lose their meaning if read in a droning, monotone voice.

Finally, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on your wedding day, make sure to obtain a list of rules and regulations from your ceremony site regarding what they do and do not permit for a wedding ceremony, and get your officiant's okay before finalizing any choices. And remember, if worse comes to worse, and you aren't allowed to use a reading that you just cannot imagine doing without - have someone read it at the reception. Words of Love aren't just for the ceremony.

By: Jean Neuhart

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Giving your guests a small token of your appreciation for them being there on your special day is a common custom, and wedding favors have become a big business these days. There's really no end to how much money you can spend or what type of items you can purchase as favors. However, no bride wants her wedding and reception to look like everyone else's, and this is especially true when it comes to her wedding favors. Even if she buys them from a company online, chances are she'll still want them personalized!

If you are looking for something unique and personal for your own reception, here's some ideas for wedding favors that you might consider.

For one, small painted wooden boxes are not only nice to look at as wedding favors but are practical as well. Virtually everyone can use a box as storage for their desk, a drawer, a nightstand, or bookshelf. You can dress these up by either handwriting or printing on your computer with a nice font a personal message that you leave inside the box. Many craft stores have a variety of boxes, and some are even heart-shaped, which would make them a great option for wedding favors.

Small candles are another great idea for favors. Even men will probably find a use for a candle, whether it's in his bathroom or bedroom. Be sure to exercise caution if giving them away to children; they need to be sure to not use them without their parent's permission, but even younger children appreciate having their own candles as wedding favors. If you purchase inexpensive one, wrap them with a length of wide ribbon to dress them up.

Notepads in a beautiful color that matches your wedding's theme, or a nice pen are also pretty but practical wedding favors. Small paperweights that are heart-shaped or otherwise festive are also great and are used by just about anyone, at the office or at home.

Remember when you choose unique wedding favors to have something that reflects the bride's and groom's personality. Chopsticks are if either the bride or groom is Asian, since most people enjoy Asian food at one time or another and will keep a quality set of chopsticks on hand.

If either or both enjoy reading and intellectual pursuits, consider bookmarks, either silver placeholders or printed ones. You can usually design your own and have an office supply store or printer actually print them on posterboard paper and cut them for you.

Small potted plants can also be great options, especially if you personalize the little pots they're in. Use a stencil, or if you have good handwriting and a steady hand, you can use a paint pen to write a special message yourself. Even children will appreciate receiving these as wedding favors, as they will watch over their little plant like it's a new pet.

These are just some ideas for unique wedding favors remember that your wedding is your day, so with a little bit of imagination and some time shopping, you're sure to find just the right favors for your reception.

About the Author: Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Venues, caterers, florists, bakers, photographers, videographers and the like...are all significant contributors to a successful and memorable wedding reception. Rightly so, these various vendors require and should be compensated based on the level of quality of services they provide. Many of the aforementioned merchants are normally booked a year or more prior to the wedding day due to the significant demand for their products and services. However, when it comes to musical entertainment, specifically disc jockeys, most brides and grooms traditionally have not given them the same level of consideration as the other vendors.

In spite of this apparent level of disrespect towards the wedding dj, it is normally the disc jockey who furnishes that service which is the most meaningful contributor to the overall success of the reception. Unfortunately, it is the mobile dj industry itself which has largely made this negative impression on the general public. For example, one can break into the business with a small, capital investment for purchasing inferior equipment, cheaply advertising on the internet, and downloading free music. Furthermore, when the dj can offer a very inexpensive rate for a 4 hour reception, most wedding clients jump at the opportunity to save a few bucks. However, in this instance, the old adage of 'you get what you pay for' usually applies.

On the other hand, the disc jockey industry is full of professional and qualified entertainers offering a wide range of pricing. Because of this great spectrum, clients have the ability to choose the gamut of entertainers, without having to pay an arm and leg to obtain a great dj. To obtain a good entertainer, there are certain basic criteria that must be evaluated...is he licensed, liability insured, own brand-name equipment, require a signed contract, advertise extensively, etc? Likewise, the prior is a good indication that the dj has invested a reasonable amount of time and money into his business, and therefore will act as a professional. Therefore, the bride and groom should do some homework prior to meeting their candidate, and then upon meeting him, give the same level of respect as the photographer or florist would receive.

Above all, it is important to realize that a good dj is the one vendor who will be responsible for ensuring the wedding guests are entertained throughout the day...from introduction of bridal party, during dinner, and for dancing. The worst moment for a bride would be to see only a quarter of her guests remaining for the final hour or two of the reception. It is not the photographer or the caterer who will keep the crowd around until the final dance...that responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of the disc jockey. In addition, the notion of the ipod being able to replace a live person when it comes to providing music shouldn't even be considered by a rational person.

Consequently, brides and grooms should realize that it's not a wise decision to only devote what remains of their budget towards the disc jockey after all other vendors have been secured. Meaning, for the client to expect a versatile and professional dj to perform for 4-5 hours for a meager $500, the result could be a risky gamble. After spending $15,000 on food, cake, location, flowers and pictures, what sense does it make to be frugal with the entertainment and run the risk of ruining an otherwise memorable day? Decent djs not only spin music for the reception...they act as emcee and coordinate events between the other vendors, such as making sure a photographer is present for the first dance or that the champagne is poured prior to announcing the toast. In addition, they've spent time prior to the reception meeting the client and discussing and recommending options, possibly visiting the location, and acquiring the various musical selections.

In the same way, for a musical entertainer to attract potential business, much time, effort and money are spent on advertising. Professional djs that should garner decent rates publicize their company in a variety of ways, including bridal shows, establishing and maintaining an effective website, being listed on bridal directories, publishing wedding related articles, and engaging in forums. Also, with technology continually advancing, competent disc jockeys must regularly procure new equipment, be it audio, visual or lighting related.

Accordingly, wedding clients should afford disc jockeys the same consideration that is given to their other vendors. Meaning, it isn't fair to ask a dj to engage in bargaining their services when the same requirement wouldn't be made of a florist or caterer. There are good and bad merchants in any industry...it is the clients' responsibility to determine which entertainer is best able to provide the service that will meet their needs. In another words, be willing to pay a rate that is competitive to secure the one wedding services provider that could make a very important day memorable for bride, groom and guests alike.

Author: Kenneth Gauthier

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Planning a wedding can overwhelm even the most patient person. For example how do you know what wedding favor boxes to use for your special day? There are some things that you need to consider before you choose the boxes to use.

So that you can choose the right boxes for your wedding favors. Let's find out what these things are.

You want all the details to be just right on your wedding day including the wedding favors. Instead of just putting favors for your wedding on the tables for the reception you want to put them in wedding favor boxes.

Here are some things that you need to consider when you choose the boxes that you want to use for your gifts to your guests.

- How big are the tables for the reception? How are the tables decorated? You need to take these two things into account because you do not want to get wedding favor boxes that are too large for the table.

Plus you want the boxes to look right on the tables, and that is not always the case. Have you ever been to a wedding where things just did not fit!

If you have a large wedding and a small reception hall space is going to be tight. If you are packing in many small tables you need to consider how much room you have on them for your gifts to your guests.

Larger tables give you more room to work with depending on how many chairs you will be placing at each table.

- You need to know what favors you will actually be putting into the wedding favor boxes. For chocolate wedding favors you can not put them in a box because they will melt. The smaller the favor the better it works with a box.

This seems like common sense, but planning a wedding can get hectic and sometimes small things like this get over looked. If you are going to be using boxes decide at the time you choose what favors you will handing out, how you will box them.

- Decide what color and size of box you need so that you can then decide how to have the box wrapped. You can wrap the wedding favor boxes yourself if you want but it will be easier to hire a professional to get the job done.

Time is not always on your side and depending on the size of your wedding reception this could turn into a large task that you may want to delegate. Delegating is a hard thing to do if you are a hand's on type of person, but you can still check everything out before your wedding and make any changes as you see fit!

To get some ideas for the wedding favor boxes you will use you can talk to your friends and family to see what they suggest. They will be guests at your wedding after all so why not have them help you choose the perfect wedding favors for your special day? They may have ideas that you never thought of.

About the Author: Joe Palladino invites you to visit his wedding favors website for all of your needs on your special day. They offer daily favor specials, winter wedding favors, bridal shower wedding favors and much more. With over 3000 items to choose from be sure and check out their best price guarantee.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Choosing your wedding cake can be stressful; Not only is the cake an important focal point for your reception but the cutting process is also one of the first things that many couples do together as a married couple! To make the process a whole lot easier follow this simple plan to help you organize the perfect cake.

1. Inspired Wedding Cake Ideas

It should be fun researching ideas for your cake; you'll need to decide on flavors, size and shape as well as decoration! If you haven't a theme already start by compiling a wedding scrapbook or mood board of wedding cakes that you love. Research ideas and inspiration for your perfect style by searching online to find books or magazines about wedding cakes. Tear out pictures from magazines for reference.

2. A cake that tastes as good as it looks

I suggest you make an appointment with at least three designers - comparison shopping helps you to get the best value for money as well someone who you will enjoy working with you to create the most beautiful design for your special day, in your style and within your budget.

Schedule a tasting with your short listed cake makers - It's a tough job but someone's got to do it! Your cake should taste as good as it looks. This is a good opportunity to check out which cake maker will be able to turn your dreams into a delicious reality!

3. Work that Cake Designer

If you feel a bit daunted by all of the choices then don't forget your designer who will be an invaluable source of ideas, advice and inspiration. A good designer will be a great asset - interpreting your ideas and working within your budget to create the cake of your dreams. Your designer will be able to help you select the most appropriate cake to complement your style, your wedding theme and your budget.

To make sure that your designer understands your requirements perfectly you need to explain your themes, style and colors and give examples of designs that you like.

Take along your ideas, tear outs and mood board if you have them.

You will also need to be able to give the cake designer a firm idea of how much you would like to spend, as this will guide the choices open to you.

It's ideal if the wedding cake maker already knows your wedding venues.

4. Book Your Cake

Once you've chosen your favorite designer book them up quickly to avoid disappointment. You may be expected to make a deposit at this stage to secure your booking - as with every supplier it's a good idea to lay out in writing what is expected from each party.

About the Author: Cath Jones is a freelance writer, web designer and owner of My Wedding Cake Ideas Online Magazine for brides looking for unique ideas, inspiration and pictures for their special day. Includes articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries plus latest hot trends in wedding cake and wedding cakes designs.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

I have the luxury of knowing the boss of my bridal studio and this makes the difference in terms of treatment from their employees.

I have heard of unfair treatment of "ordinary" clients just because of the lower value of bridal package they have paid.

It is not easy to tolerate this kind of treatment. It is going to make you feel from uneasy to angry to frustrated and eventually to helpless.

Wedding planning is supposed to be fun and things are supposedly to go along as plan. The professional bridal service providers are supposed to be professional enough to give the best customer service to any customer and at least treat them all equally.

These are all the assumptions before wedding planning. This is the kind of image portrayed by bridal magazines and tv commercials.

No one really knows that biasness still exist even between customers and bridal studio staff.

It literally means staff gives different service to different customers they are serving.

There are 7 pointers to take note even before signing on the dotted line:

1. Sales person is not the same as those coordinators who will eventually serve you.

In the local context, competition has been very stiif especially over the years when more and more bridal studios come into the wedding market. More studios are fighting over the same pie.

I know when I went to a wedding show, one of the sales staff attended to us. She was representing one of the very exquisite bridal brand.

I could only described that her sales pitch was so good that a bird could rest on her shoulder and fall asleep. She was that good!

She gave us an "exclusive" package and explained that it was already the best deal that they could offer and no other studio could offer at this price. However, a few more visits to other studios sounded the same in the sales pitch.

2. Do your homework

Do your homework before you go for such wedding shows. Ask around from your friends who got married and ask them what to look out for.

It would be a bonus if you could take a look at how an actual wedding package looks like. I got two of my colleagues to help. They showed me their contract and reminded me the things to look out for and how to bargain.

Discuss with your spouse-to-be what your budget is and what kind of package both of you want. Discuss whatever is to be discussed before entering the wedding show.

Remember the sales staff are trained professionals just to close sales. There won't be time to discuss when the selling takes place.

A fine tip is to agree to walk off as long as one feels uncomfortable with the sales pitch and walk off together. Sales people are very good in making use of incongruency. As long as they know one is still keen, he or she will be targeted.

3. Ask for customers' feedback

Don't ever sign at the wedding exhibition unless you have visited their studios and talked to their customers.

Visit their actual office and have a purposeful chit-chat with their customers. Ask how they find their services, ask them if they know any staff previously, ask them what is in their package.

You may only sign on the contract only if you have done your homework.

4. Know what you want for your package.

Do you know what you want for your bridal package?

Do you need the bridal car? Do you need two 15R albums instead of one?

Do you need Made-to-measure gowns or just off the rack?

If you don't require some items, how could you use them to bargain for other items such as more 15R photos?

5. Control your buying impulse

Humans are impulsive shoppers. We all shop and buy things based on emotions. Even if men are considered logical thinkers, we still buy some items because it makes us feel good.

I remember one friend of mine took up an expensive package which costs about S$6000 and only regretted when she reached home.

Another friend took up more photos and she had to pay another S$3000 on top of her S$3000 bridal package. First of all, her husband didn't stop her just to show that he could afford. This is called "saving one's face".

The wife didn't back off just because the sales staff was a sweet-talker who kept on praising that she was really pretty, both inside and outside of the pictures.

6. Make a second visit even if it takes more of your time.

Remember some studios allow you to bring the photocopied sample list home and they will get in touch with you a few days later.

The competition is so stiff that they will never miss out any chance of getting new customers.

Bring the sample package list home and take a bath and discuss over a hot cup of tea with your partner. Make a comparision what other studios offer and list out what items you want to have replaced.

With this new list, make another trip down to the studio, find back the same staff and negotiate from there. It will be easier for you.

7. Treat the sales person like a good old friend

Treat them like a human and be friendly towards them. Ask for their help to give you more freebies. This is only doable when they find that they can clique well with you. Ask to be introduced to the senior staff so that you can know them too.

The other junior staff will observe and they have always been observing. If the customers know the boss or senior managers, they will most likely give you better service.

About the Author: Jhong Ren runs My Wedding Blog- an online wedding diary that gives more than just the usual tips and advice on a daily basis.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

One man's affordable honeymoon package might be another man's budget buster. There are so many expenses for weddings that the affordable honeymoon package might not get the happy couple very far from home. Although the expenses of a wedding are substantial, there are some great affordable honeymoon packages available. One idea for an affordable honeymoon package requires getting someone else to pay for the honeymoon as a wedding gift. People often ask what the couple would like to have as a gift, and a contribution toward part of the honeymoon might be an option.

Some of the cruise ships have some very affordable honeymoon packages, and life on a cruise ship can be a great way to unwind from the hectic schedule and duties of planning a wedding. The cruise ships go to all the corners of the world so the possibilities are most attractive. There are some affordable honeymoon packages that go to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. A cruise on a luxury ship is always a good way to relax while visiting interesting ports of call. Sunbathing on the deck or swimming in the pool on the way to fabulous destinations is a great way to spend part of the honeymoon. There should be a cruise available for many different wedding budgets.

Affordable honeymoon packages are available for many different goals and objectives. Those who want to go to the beach will probably find that the closer the beach the more affordable the honeymoon package. Those with a large budget might hit the beach in Tahiti while those with the smaller budget will want to go to the East Coast or the West Coast depending on the proximity to the starting point. Those who want to play golf on their honeymoon might go to Scotland if the budget permits but Phoenix if funds are more limited. There are great golf courses in both places, and some package tours available to each destination.

Honeymoon packages might be more affordable if these are booked far in advance of the departure dates. A couple might be able to arrange a house exchange to save some money on their honeymoon. There are homes available for exchange all around the world for those with a home to exchange. These exchanges often include cars and other amenities as well. This type of deal would save all funds needed for housing while on the honeymoon. Accommodations are often a large part of any honeymoon bill. A camping trip is another way to save on accommodations for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

About the Author: James Gunaseelan writes for Leading matrimonial portal for Brahmins brides and grooms.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Your wedding is undoubtedly an event which will change the life of you and your spouse. After your big day you will no longer be single. Instead, you two will become a married couple and start a new life. As a result, you should celebrate your wedding with a special and unique way. You will also try to make it perfect and plan every detail of it with the greatest care. Therefore, you should plan for a destination wedding in order to make the event really special and unique. By planning it you do not only make the event special to you but also special to your guests.

A destination wedding is one that you do not host it in either your or your spouse's place. Instead you will host in virtually any place you like, and most probably in other countries. Of course you also need to consider your budget and other practical issues such as the guests to be invited.

You can choose a place where you have been dreaming of. If you do not choose to host it in another country, you can consider holding in other states. The main concept is that you try to find some alternatives to a traditional church wedding. You have to bear in mind that you are not only choosing a place which attract you, you are also finding a place which will impress your guests and as discussed, you guests will remember your wedding forever.

However, one drawback of such a memorable event is that some of your guests will be missed. It is because you will probably need to prepare for the air tickets and accommodations for the guests and it is quite impossible to have 200 guest in such case, unless you have plenty of budget allocated to transportation and accommodations!

Besides, since it is more difficult to plan for a destination one. It will be certainly an exhaustive planning work. But it should be full of fun at the end of the day. And you should always remind yourself that since there will probably be a limited number of guests, you will be able to enjoy the time being together with your guests. And a destination wedding is usually meant to be an intimate one.

Now you should be excited to start planning for your ultra special and unique event. You should first identify the location you want. If you do not have any concrete idea on this, you can consult a wedding planner and they will certainly give you some constructive advices. You need to plan everything in advance. You also need to choose a place which is safe since you do not want you and your spouse, as well as your guests, to be in danger.

You can have tons of places to choose for your destination wedding, Hawaii, Bali and Phuket are some popular places. You can consult travel agents on transportation and accommodations. You can even have your romantic honeymoon in the destination your choose.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer with great interest in Chinese Style Wedding cards. He designs Contemporary Chinese Wedding Invitations. Be sure to check his Ideas on Unique Wedding Favor. You can also find Wedding Vendors in Singapore from his website.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

With so many wedding tasks, choosing the right wedding photography can seem like the most difficult. Not only are the pictures usually your sole documentation of the event, but they are something you will want to proudly display and pass down to your children.

There are many concerns you may have when selecting a wedding photographer. First, you should like the style and displayed pictures that you've seen from that photographer. Next, you need a photographer that can also fit within your budget. If you are in love with a certain photographer's work but they won't budge on the price, you'll have to cut costs somewhere else.

Finally, one of the most important aspects you may not have thought of is the relationship and chemistry you have with your photographer. You should feel comfortable around your photographer so that your true emotions will be able to easily be captured on your wedding day. Evaluate your photographer's personality, work style, and other items by asking the following questions in the face to face interview.

- Have you had a disaster wedding or mishaps? How did you handle them?

- How do you handle when guests aren't being cooperative? What if others are taking pictures while you're working?

- Am I guaranteed to have you as the sole photographer for my wedding or are there other photographers in the company who may cover my wedding?

- Are these albums all your work or other photographers' work?

- Can I see recent work or more wedding albums?

- What types of wedding style photography do you do?

- What type of equipment and film do you use?

- Do you offer touchups, hand coloring, digital coloring, or any other services? Do these services cost extra?

- Do you offer full day coverage or is there an extra fee for this?

- Can you travel to more than one or two locations or is there an extra fee? What is the farthest you are willing to travel without extra fees?

- Do your packages include one or two photographers or do you work with an assistant? Is there an extra fee if I request another photographer or assistant?

- Do you have clients or references that I can talk to about their experiences?

- Can you come early to the ceremony to get extra shots? Does this cost extra?

- Do you offer a CD or DVD of the images? Is this in the package or does it cost extra?

- Can you customize a package for me or lower the price without taking anything out?

- How much are reprints?

- How long should I expect to wait until I receive my pictures?

- What kind of albums do you offer?

Before you finalize any contract, carefully read everything that is written in it. Be sure everything you discussed and want is in the contract, or you won't be guaranteed to receive it. Pay attention to the time constraints, travel, and other items in the package so you know what to expect. Overestimate the time period needed because of travel requirements or if you're running late. This will take away some of the worry so you can enjoy the big day.

Overall, as long as you like the photographer's style, price, and personality (professionalism), your wedding pictures should turn out beautifully.

Talk over everything in the contract with your favorite Utah wedding photographer so that nothing gets overlooked.

By Callie Preisendorf

Labels: Wedding-Planning

As a replacement for of the usual ceramic or human-like figurines, you could opt for a cake topper you can personalize. Personalized wedding cake toppers are beautiful and unique cake toppers which are meant to be used in place of traditional toppers. You will employ them in addition to the traditional bride-and-groom cake topper. It often encompasses a smooth polished surface with ample room to engrave something as simple as the names and date or sentiments as interesting as you can imagine. This must really be among the gifts bride and groom are sure to cherish forever.

The Personalized Rose Wedding Cake Topper, built on a stable base is a good option. It is very unique due to its low "center of gravity" and will not fall over if unintentionally smacked. The rose bud is to be found at its widest point and contains a stem that runs down to the front edge of the base. A thorn and a leaf could also be seen and the twisted heart is mounted at the rear of the base. You might easily engraved names according to your wish as the names are attached securely to the heart. In this structure, the brides name is frequently mount over the grooms name. All along, it will further have a red heart in a spot that looks natural for it to be.

If you present the bride and groom with a stunning personalized wedding cake toppers then they'll cherish it as a keepsake. You could make a merry with the heart-shaped topper which could be personalized in three different ways. At initials with interlocking hearts or with a monogram, you could put this personalized wedding cake toppers at use. Such personalized wedding cake topper makes a thoughtful engagement gift. Entwined hearts with names and date as a personalized wedding cake topper could be a classic decoration for your cake and wedding reception. It is an enduring memento and aide memoire of your love and dedication to each other. Upon purchase, you will get a chance to personalize it according to the shape that you desire.

Author: Bill Hansen

Labels: Wedding-Planning

The most important thing to remember when you are searching for the perfect wedding favor is that you want your guests to be really impressed and satisfied with your choice of wedding favors that really show you're appreciation for each and every individual guest at your wedding reception. Your guests all expect to have good food, fun times, and a lot of memories at your wedding celebration so you should try picking out wedding favors that can promote these things that your guests will all appreciate from your wedding reception.

Candy is great to give out at each and every table because your guests will be able to enjoy a sweet snack and they will fully appreciated your gesture of kindness and thanks because they will be able to enjoy these delectable sweets while they are at the wedding and then they can take home to personalized packages as a keepsake from your unique and memorable celebration that they will always think of with a sense of fondness. A major reason why everyone loves chocolate is because it releases endorphins into your body and really has a physical effect of making you feel a lot better and sort of getting you ready to smile, laugh, talk, and just have a fantastic time all night long at the wonderful party.

Two Hearts Mint Tin:

This personalized mint tin has the image of two hearts coming together to really show the meaning behind your wedding and the whole celebration that you have spent so much time planning and putting together. The shocking red color against a white background really makes everything stand out and will also add a lot of color to your décor. This tin can be personalized with the first name of the bride and groom inside of each heart to add even more meaning to this wonderful wedding favor that all of your guests will really enjoy.

Purple Rain Flower Chocolate Bar:

This chocolate bar is amazing because it looks just as good as it tastes with the outer packaging of purple flowers spread delicately and an ornate center that display the names of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding. Your guests will love this bar of chocolate because it will certainly enhance your wedding theme and the decorations that you have chosen while also treating your guests to a scrumptious snack that they can enjoy while having great conversation and good laughs.

Flower Garden Chocolate Bars:

Flower Garden Chocolate Bars come in either in rich dark Chocolate, without a taste of bitterness, or creamy milk chocolate bars. The Flower Garden Chocolate Bars dark chocolate bars are in the gold wrapper while the creamy milk chocolate bars are wrapped silver foil.

The front of the 5.87 x 1 .75 x .5 inch bar has the wedding couple's names and wedding date, while the back of the wrapper says "Thank You for Sharing This Special Day With Us." Colorful flowers form the background for the 2.2 oz bar wrapper.

The way to everyone heart is through their stomach. Because everyone loves chocolate, these favors will surely be a big hit.

Author: Joe Palladino

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Wedding Planners could do seminars for couples or brides on how to plan the perfect wedding. These are some of the options that you can look into when you plan for your wedding reception music. Find a job in the wedding industry. Even if you plan to start your own business, consider getting a job in the industry first.

You would want to plan it out before the wedding, so it was ready for adding photos soon after your honeymoon. The complete book gives detailed advice on how you can get paid to plan weddings, be hired for a job in the wedding industry, or start your own wedding planning business. Not every wedding videographer and professional, and particularly those for whom weddings are only a small part of their total business plan, can afford to exorbitant royalty fees associated with wedding music and satisfying copyright laws.

I'm helping my daughter plan her wedding. Borrowers can avail any purpose loans for: Purchase/re-mortgage of home, Home improvements to increase property value, Car/bike/boat purchase, Dream vacation abroad/cruise, Clear debts with a debt consolidation loan, Plan a dream wedding, Business loans to develop business, Finance education/tuition fees for courses, Finance any other major purchase. Borrowers can choose between secured and unsecured loan options depending on their needs or circumstances. Maybe you plan on selling beautiful wedding cards in which case your site falls into a wedding category.

The most appealing feature of the Knot Wedding Planning Kit is the travel and leisure magazine assisting you locate and plan your favorite honeymoon destination, along with a discount of $50 from American Express Vacations, and 10% discount at The Knot Wedding Shop. For example, you might offer complete wedding planning services, wedding day co-ordination only, or consult with brides and grooms who want to plan their own weddings. TV has taken advantage of the series? popularity by pushing out several marketing initiatives including a frosting and chiffon-laden obstacle course in New York City, awarding the winner with cash and prizes in order to plan her wedding. Start your wedding day shape-up plan with regular exercise and drink plenty of water (9-13 cups per day is recommended by the USDA).

By: Soli Katir www.solikatir.com/Wedding-Plan.html Are the church bells already ringing? Did you know that by browsing these sites, you will save as much as 80% of an average of $30,000 for your wedding?

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Does your fantasy wedding take place on a powdery white beach with a backdrop of crystal clear water and blue sky? The Bahamas provides not only picturesque scenery, but also an average year-round tropical climate of 83 degrees F/28.5 degrees C. Romance is inherent in this magnificent exotic location. A wedding ceremony at sunset is the most popular time of day for a beach wedding.

The Beach Wedding Remember it is your memorable day and, as the bride and groom, it can be whatever you envision it to be. So be creative and inspire your family and friends to do the same. Whether you choose to say "I do" in your bathing suits or in the traditional wedding attire, your beach wedding should implant a memory that will last a lifetime.

Legal Requirements
In order to have your wedding in the Bahamas, you must register for a marriage license after a 24-hour residency period. The cost is approximately $100 and the marriage license is valid for 90 days. Both parties must go together to the place of registry to apply.

Necessary Documents
-Photo ID (driver's license)
-Valid passports
-Divorce decree (if re-marrying)
-Death certificate (if widowed)
-Proof of arrival in the Bahamas (plane ticket stub)
-Written parental consent for parties under 18 years of age

Food and Entertainment
Bahamian cuisine, influenced by the American South, presents a great variety of traditional dishes such as curried goat, rock lobster, fried plantains, conch fritters, grouper fingers, and souse (a soup unique to the Caribbean). When it comes to the wedding cake, a delicious West Indian rum cake will delight your guests.

Bahamian steel drums will have you and your guests dancing all night under the stars. Hiring a Junkanoo band, (native music by Bahamians) would be a great addition to the line up of entertainment at your beach wedding.

Wedding Package
Because the Bahamas is the marriage capital of the world, companies will compete for your business by offering all types of wedding and honeymoon vacation packages. Shop around until you find something that suits your specific needs and those of your guests. Whatever your budget, you will find suitable accommodations. Whether you stay at a luxury resort or choose the comfort of a cozy inn, the exotic ocean scenery is still the same.

A typical wedding package offers the following:
-Accommodations
-Photography and/or videographer
-Food catering
-Ceremony and reception facilities
-Flowers
-Minister
-Wedding Consultant

Wedding Budget
If your budget can afford it, hire a wedding consultant to handle the details of your beach wedding. This will allow the bride and groom to thoroughly enjoy the wedding worry-free. A local consultant would be your best bet as they specialize in Bahamas weddings. If you choose to deal with the preparations yourself, keep it simple so that you can stay in the moment without being overwhelmed, and enjoy the beach wedding of your dreams!

About the Author: Fred Coolridge is the content manager and author for the website Great Exuma Island, Bahamas - www.exumabahamas.org.

Labels: Wedding-Planning

Your refrigerator is such a staple item in your kitchen and you probably use it more times a day than you can count. Keeping your food cold is obviously not the only job that the refrigerator has to complete in your house each and every day from morning until night and even when you're sleeping. The refrigerator is the traditional place to display anything that you want to because it's such a conspicuous place to display items and reminders that you want to make sure that everyone sees. You can put up pictures of your favorite trips or celebrations, work that you're kids have done at school, letters from loved ones, reminders for your day, a to-do list, and an innumerable amount of other things that really make your house a home and give your kitchen the feel of being vintage and family-oriented.

When you are planning your wedding reception, it's really important that you consider the most unique and trendy items for your decorations, wedding favors, and any other essential wedding accessories. Why not try some great wedding favor magnets that express the theme of your wedding reception that you worked for months and months to plan and make into your perfect idea of a dream wedding with your new spouse. You can find wedding favors of any style to fit your theme perfectly, especially if you look online for ease and comfort when you are shopping. Refrigerator magnets are great wedding favors because each guest can take one home with them and use it in their own house to impress their guests and every time they see it holding up their important items on the refrigerator they will be reminded of the great time that they had at your wedding.

"The Perfect Pair" Refrigerator Magnet Set

This set of two pears is perfect for any wedding reception because it features a bride and groom pair of pears kissing each other affectionately. Your guests will be talking about how adorable they are for years to come every time they look at them on the refrigerator. These wedding favors are especially great if you have a harvest or fall themed wedding, but they will certainly beautify any other theme that you can come up with. The magnets come packaged in a gift box with a "For You" tag to make it an even more personal gesture toward each and every one of your guests.

Refrigerator magnets are very useful and practical wedding gifts. Give these gifts out to your wedding party reception guest, or your bridal shower guest and you will sure to put a smile on their face.

Magnets can also be used as a very helpful reminder to those loved ones who you place to invite to your wedding or bridal shower.

You can mail theme these refrigerator magnets to remind them of the date you plan to have your special event held. These wonderful magnets have some many uses that anyone planning a wedding or special event should consider these favors.

Author: Joe Palladino

Labels: Wedding-Planning

When planning a bridal shower for a close friend or relative, coming up with ideas for invitations can seem daunting at first. However, if you follow a simple set of guidelines when approaching your invitations, the process can be easy and you will end up with a high quality and memorable invitation.

Handmade Bridal Shower Invitations vs. Off The Shelf

Not all bridal shower invitations are created equal. Depending on which approach you choose, you can wind up with invitations that vary greatly in terms of quality. Off the shelf invitations are usually created with standard card stock while handmade invitations allow you choose your paper and allow you to use high quality blends that are much nicer to the touch. With off the shelf bridal shower invitations you also run the risk of using invitations that perhaps some of your friends have used in the past. Because your guests may keep the invitation well into the future as a keepsake, it is a good choice to go for quality when choosing your bridal shower invitations.

Including All The Necessary Information

Bridal shower invitations should not only invite your guests to the event, they should contain clear instructions on the location of the shower, any theme that is being used for the shower and an RSVP card that can help you determine the amount of guests you can expect. Including a self addressed stamped envelope inside the invitation so that your guests can return the RSVP easily is also recommended.

Bridal Shower Invitation Styles

There are many different approaches to style you can take when designing an putting together your invitations. A great designer will work with you to achieve the overall look and feel of your invitations and may suggest things such as: multi-layered design, color schemes, envelope and seal options as well as wording and layout. Depending on your budget you can go very basic with a one card invitation all the way up to elaborate bridal shower invitations that have many layers and materials.

Making Sure You Match

Bridal shower invitations should, if possible, be approached as a set which includes the invitation, RSVP card and return envelope and a letter seal for the main invitation envelope. You can go a long way in showing your attention to detail and style by making sure these items match both in design and color but also in paper stock. Again, a knowledgeable designer will always have these things in mind when you engage them to create your invitations.

Getting Your Bridal Shower Invitations Out on Time

You want to make sure that your bridal shower invitations are put in the mail with plenty of time for your guests to respond and for you to get a clear count on your guest list. A good time frame for mailing is 2-3 months prior to the bridal shower.

If you have out of town guests, this will also allow you some time to arrange accommodations at a local hotel. With group booking you can usually get a discount on the room rate for your out of town guests. This information can also be included in your invitations.

Following the simple steps above can help keep you on track for the bridal shower that you're planning and help you approach your invitations with quality in mind. Paying attention to the little details when it comes to your invitations can make a memorable impression with your guests and provide them with an elegant keepsake of your event.

By: Michelle Burry

Labels: Wedding-Planning

When it comes to weddings, the speeches are the one thing that everybody dreads. For the bride and groom it is embarrassing and for the people making the speeches, it is extremely demanding. What do you write? Do you make it funny or should you opt for something a little more serious?

The best man wedding speech is particularly difficult. You want to give the guests a laugh, but you don't want to mention anything too bad otherwise you could potentially cause an argument. Everyone expects you to be witty and full of hilarious stories, but what if your mind goes blank? The pressure of giving a good best man wedding speech can really make the mind go blank and that is when help is often needed.

Help With Your Best Man Wedding Speech

If you are finding it hard to put your best man wedding speech together then don't panic! There is help available.

One of the biggest mistakes best men make when it comes to their speeches is that they try to make it funny and it turns out cringe worthy instead. One thing you should avoid at all cost is mentioning the bride's family. It may seem funny at the time to mention how tight with money the bride's father is, or how mad her aunt Isabelle is, but often the people involved do not always see the funny side!

Whilst the speech should definitely be prepared, it is also possible to leave it open for the big day. Often on the actual wedding day things will happen which you can bring up later in the speech. It is very rare that a wedding goes through without anything going wrong at all. So do plan your speech but keep your eyes and ears open on the actual day to see if there's any last minute material you could incorporate into the speech.

Another common mistake which the best man makes before his speech is to get drunk. Now there is nothing wrong with having a drink to calm your nerves beforehand, but it is definitely not advisable to get too drunk! If you do get drunk there is a huge chance that you will say something wrong and offend everyone. So go easy on the drinks and your best man wedding speech may just go down a storm.

Ideally a good best man wedding speech will be fairly short, it will have a good story in it which everyone will understand and it will include the use of props. Making your speech visually appealing too with the use of props will keep everyone entertained. You could also even ask somebody else to help you to give the speech and maybe act out a little scenario to keep the guests entertained?

Overall the best man wedding speech is one of the most important. However, as long as you do not insult the grandparents, you compliment the bride and you do not tell a story which is too embarrassing, you should be ok.

So if you are in the middle of confusion of what to say and what not to say and how to deliver a witty yet memorable best man speech then you must visit this site: http://unique-review.com/wedding-speeches

Author: Bobby Wilson

Labels: Wedding-Planning

At your wedding reception you really want everything to be perfect, pretty, and, most importantly, meaningful. Flowers can really accomplish all three of these vital tasks at your wedding and still impress your guests with the way you use one thing for multiple purposes. Flowers are a beautiful addition to any room, home, or party because they bring with them feelings of joy and they stimulate your senses with their aromatic scent and their beautiful blossoming petals and colors that make your eyes become fixated on them. Flowers are really enchanting and adding them into your wedding reception d?r will impress your guests especially if you are having a themed wedding and flowers really fit into that theme and bring your decorations together and show your guests that you know what you are doing.

The other great part about flowers is that they all have different kinds of meanings. For example, all different colors of roses have different meanings like love, romance, passion, and friendship so you can really express your true feelings through them and show everyone what you think about them and the whole wedding reception. Other flowers have other meanings that you might want to research and then write a little blurb about to leave as messages at the tables to tell your guests why you chose these specific flowers. The universal meaning of flowers is the idea of eternity and everlasting life because their intense beauty is very inspirational and will bring this mood to everyone and has special meaning for you on your wedding day. The everlasting meaning applies to you on this amazingly special day because you have just entered into an eternal bond that you will enjoy for the rest of your life and that you will share with your spouse and every single one of your friends, family, and loved ones because they are such a big part of your life. Flowers are just the best choice if you are looking for something to add to your decorations but you really don't know what to do because you can't think of anything. Flowers will always be the right choice, no matter what, because they will always add a special something to the color scheme, smell, and meaning of the party.

Another great feature is that depending on what kinds of flower you get, you can give them out as types of wedding party favors for your guests to take home and remember your special day forever with. A wonderful tradition is that of drying and pressing flowers so that you will always have them and you will always have a physical representation of the night that made your life complete. This is a good thing to have because a lot of times physical objects can trigger our memories of the past. In years to come, you and your spouse can look at these dried and pressed flowers together and remember all the emotions and hopes you felt during that night of dreams coming true and very palpable love.

Submitted By: Joe Palladino

Labels: Wedding-Planning